OK, my fellow Scripture-memory Siestas! It’s the 15th and you know what that means! It’s time to sign in (name and location) and record our second Scriptures. Remember, this process is a vital part of the accountability that leads to victory so I hope so much to see several thousand Scriptures come in over the next 36 hours. For those of you who are new to our accountability group, we welcome you! Jump in here with us and get some Scripture as your life-elixir. Here’s a little extra motivation! AN EXCERPT FROM AN ANONYMOUS COMMENT left on the mini-tutorial in reference to our first memory verse: 

“Last night I had THE WORST anxiety attack that I have EVER had in my life. My sweet husband prayed over me and as I climbed in under the covers just quivering with fear, my verse that I am memorizing just came to me and I started to say it over and over out loud and such a peace and calm washed over me. Never has an anxiety attack stopped dead in its tracks as this one did-I am just in awe that in this short time I am already learning my scripture and realizing just how powerful this thing it! This works! Satan has NO authority over MY MIND to cause that kind of fear! I will wield my sword his way!”

Doesn’t our sister’s testimony get your blood pumping? No, we don’t all have a husband who will pray over us at times of mental torment but, Girlfriend, every single one of us can do exactly what our Siesta did! Wield that Holy Thing!!

Now for a few reminders:
1. Choose a Scripture you yourself really need. If you don’t have one picked out and you feel like you could really use the one I’m memorizing, please feel free to join me and don’t feel lame. That’s what mentors in Christ are for.

2. Limit your comment to your Scripture (entirely written out even if you’re joining me with mine) and your name and city. Remember to add your translation abbreviation because many of your sisters may want to look up your verse and won’t know where to find it otherwise. I know it’s hard not to leave further comments but it’s so much cooler to read one Scripture after another as we go through the post. You did such a great job following this instruction last time. Truly it was one of the most powerful things I’ve ever seen on the blog.

3. Add your verse to your spiral index cards as your second Scripture then begin the same process of memorization/meditation that you did with the first one. Once you get a bit of a handle on the second one, you will then begin doing them BOTH over and over in succession. Don’t get intimidated by this! You can do it. In fact, you’re going to thrive on it! To me, this is when it really starts getting fun and POWERFUL. I love the process of saying a number of Scriptures in a row. You’ll find that the victory is not only won in the spiritual war around us. It’s also won in that very personal war raging within us. Even if you read your two Scriptures over and over and don’t memorize them word for word, remember the primary goal is still accomplished: You are getting the Truth in your brain and holding your thoughts captive to Christ!

A quick word of caution: I am a little concerned for some of you who chose long passages the first time around. You really might consider repeating a portion of it as your second set so you can retain what you’re memorizing. In fact, if you chose a chapter, I’d suggest doing it in as many as four or five segments. I just don’t want you to get discouraged and drop out. Unless you’re pretty experienced at memorization, it’s probably best to stick to shorter segments and see it all the way through to our goal: 24 verses in 12 months!

OK, here’s my 2nd Scripture. Like last time, it’s a verse I really love but have never put to memory. It won’t take you long to figure out what the theme of the Scripture is! And, yes, it’s one I really need for a challenge I’m going through personally. I love it in the NIV:

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV

Here are a few ways I will (“E”) EXAMINE it:
1. It’s 2nd person. (In other words, me saying it to you about God. As I pray it, on the other hand, I’ll say it like this, “You (God) are able to make all grace abound to me…”)

2. The theme is grace and the Scripture expresses that beautiful theme by repeating two key words: “all” (4X) and “abound” (2X). I can already tell that I’ll be emphasizing the word “ALL” as I repeat it aloud because clearly that was Paul’s inspired intention.

3. I notice that the word “every” is used at the very end of the verse instead of “all.” A little twist that I’ll want to keep in mind.

These are little clues that will help me memorize. I hope they help you see the process of “Examine” in our RENEW acrostic at work!

Incidentally, some of you who gave us the privilege to pray for you yesterday about financial needs might take a look at the verses that appear soon after the one I’ve chosen. If God has not led you otherwise, perhaps you might consider memorizing 2 Corinthians 9:10 or 11. When we have a pure and needy heart before God, these kinds of Scriptures are perfectly appropriate to pray, memorize and believe our faithful Father for. Philippians 4:19 is another terrific Scripture for this occasion.

OK, you sweet things! Get busy! Let me see some Scriptures!

I love you like crazy. May Christ Himself, the Living Logos, empower and inspire you!

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 at 12:06 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.